Kinerja Industri Pengolahan Kakao Mengengi Manis, Kemenperin: Export Lampaui 1 Miliar Dollar AS

Director General of Agro Industry of the Ministry of Industry Putu Juli Ardika. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Industry)

JAKARTA - The cocoa processing industry is one of the industrial groups that has made a significant contribution to the national economy.

Therefore, the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) continues to strive to improve the performance of the cocoa processing industry in Indonesia to be more productive and globally competitive.

Based on data from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) in 2021-2022, Indonesia is ranked third in the world as a country that processes cocoa products.

In addition, Indonesia is sixth in the world as the largest cocoa seed producer.

"The cocoa processing industry is able to contribute foreign exchange of up to more than 1 billion dollars in 2020 and 2021," said Director General of Agro Kemeperin Industry, Putu Juli Ardika at the Commemoration of Indonesian Kakao Day (HKI) in Jakarta, quoted on Sunday, November 13.

Putu said, 85 percent or 319,431 tons of the total production volume of the cocoa processing industry has been exported to 96 countries. Among them are the United States, India, China, Estonia, and Malaysia.

Putu explained, currently there are 11 intermediate sector cocoa processing industries with a capacity of 739,250 tons per year.

Furthermore, there are 900 chocolate processing industries, and 31 chocolate artists (bean to bar).

"Currently, the utilization of the large-scale cocoa processing industry reaches 54 percent. The government is also encouraging the development of artists who have the potential to have much greater added value," he explained.

In an effort to develop the cocoa processing industry, the government is focused on spurring downstreaming the cocoa processing industry through providing tax allowance incentives for the chocolate processing industry, both new investment and expansion.

In addition, Putu said, the provision of super deduction tax for industries investing in the development of human resources and R&D, as well as encouraging and facilitating partnerships between the cocoa processing industry and farmer groups.

"The government will also facilitate promotions for processed cocoa products from domestic industries in various international exhibitions, both held in Indonesia and abroad. One of them is the holding of the SIAL Interfood 2022 exhibition which also supports the Commemoration of Indonesian Kakao Day," said Putu.

Commemoration of Indonesian Kakao Day is a routine activity carried out every year, filled with various agendas, such as exhibitions of Indonesian cocoa and chocolate products, cocoa beans competitions, chocolate competitions, and national cocoa talk shows.

"We really hope that this important activity can increase the spirit of togetherness and stimulate all cocoa stakeholders in developing cocoa commodities and the cocoa processing industry in Indonesia."

"In addition, this exhibition is also able to increase people's pride in domestic chocolate products, which of course are no less qualified than similar products from abroad," said Putu.

In a series of SIAL Interfood 2022 exhibitions in Jakarta, the Directorate General of Agro Industry at the Ministry of Industry also participated in promoting the national cocoa processing industry through the establishment of the Cocoa Pavilion covering an area of 54 m2, which is filled by 10 business actors in the cocoa and cocoa processing industry.

The Indonesian Kakao and Chocolatematics exhibition at SIAL Interfood has taken place on November 9-12 2022. SIAL Interfood is the largest food industry exhibition in Indonesia, which is attended by more than 750 companies from 20 countries. This event shows the interest of food and beverage industry players to continue to expand their market at home and abroad.

"This effort is also an active role of the Directorate General of Agro Industry at the Ministry of Industry in a series of activities on Indonesian Kakao Day (HKI) with the main theme of Chocolateku, My Culture, My Indonesia and the theme of the 2022 HKI Towards Indonesia as a Producent & Consumer of Sustainable Kakao," he added.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Agro Industry said that the Ministry of Industry appreciates the players in the Indonesian cocoa and chocolate processing industry and various related parties in maintaining their performance amidst global uncertainty, even being able to increase productivity and expand their market.

"We hope that this activity can continue to be carried out every year to introduce cocoa and chocolate products to foreign countries, increase domestic consumption and build an image of Indonesia as a producer of cocoa products and quality chocolate-based food/drinking products," he said.